SHAFAQNA – The Pentagon has announced that it plans to deploy 2,300 Marines to the Middle East to quickly respond to crises in the conflict-ridden region.

Pentagon spokesman Rear Admiral John Kirby told reporters on Tuesday the United States is establishing a task force in the Middle East which will include several fighter aircraft and be prepared to take rapid actions in the case of “contingencies”.

Kirby claimed that the plan was first prepared in 2013 and was not related “to the ongoing operations in Iraq.”

Last week, a high-ranking Marine Corps official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the task force would be based in Kuwait.